Historians have widely divergent opinions about the presidency of Lyndon B. Johnson - specifically the effectiveness of his Great Society programs - but there is more unanimity about the work of his wife, Lady Bird Johnson.
While her work often was summed up as "beautification," a word she hated and thought sounded "sissified," the country's landscape did change when she was on the job.
» "Litter" became the dirty word it is.
» Many billboards disappeared from highways.
» Junkyards were forced to be screened.
» Flowers were planted in the medians of interstates and other divided highways.
» Washington, D.C., received a facelift and became more inviting to tourists.
By 1969 when the Johnsons left the White House, the country had taken to heart "beautification" and the "Keep America Beautiful" campaign Mrs. Johnson had joined. It seemed important, the right thing to do. Some have credited her work as one of the beginnings of the environmental movement.
We bring up Lady Bird Johnson's work because we're hearing more and more about the proliferation of litter and trash across the country but also in Tennessee and Chattanooga.
Callers and letters to the editor writers have been upset at what they've seen, arguing that something has changed, some line has been crossed.
"This is by far the filthiest state I have ever lived in," a letter writer recently opined. "The lack of pride of Tennesseans in their state is appalling."
Another caller railed at the trail of trash along Hickory Valley Road. He wondered who was responsible for picking up litter.
This much we know from the city of Chattanooga website. Garbage "collection crews will not pick up spills or litter resulting from unbagged garbage, overfilled containers or scavenging." However, elsewhere it notes that street sweepers drive both city streets and state routes picking up debris such as dirt, glass, gravel and litter. And while it notes that sweepers run on fixed routes to maximize cost efficiency and limit excess mileage, residents can call 311 or visit CHA311.com to request a street sweeper to service a specific location when debris may be a hazard to safe driving conditions.
While those are temporary solutions, it's time we returned to the concern about beautification that Lady Bird Johnson once settled on the nation. We should look on the thought of anyone throwing litter on the ground or out of their car as abhorrent. Children should be taught not to litter as a habit - in the same way they learn to regularly brush their teeth.
It's our responsibility, and it's time we - again - took it seriously.